April 29: The National Baseball Hall of Fame confirmed today that it has postponed this year’s induction ceremony until next year. Jeter, Walker, Simmons and Miller will be inducted along with any 2020-21 inductees on July 25, 2021. Said Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark:
Induction Weekend is a celebration of our National Pastime and its greatest legends, and while we are disappointed to cancel this incredibly special event, the Board of Directors’ overriding concern is the health and well-being of our new inductees, our Hall of Fame members, our wonderful fans and the hundreds of staff it takes to present the weekend’s events in all of its many facets. We care deeply about every single person who visits Cooperstown. In heeding the advice of government officials as well as federal, state and local medical and scientific experts, we chose to act with extraordinary caution in making this decision.
You can view the full announcement at the Hall of Fame’s web site.
April 28: The National Baseball Hall of Fame is likely to announce this week that its annual induction ceremony and all of the surrounding festivities will be postponed and combined with the 2021 ceremony, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports. The Hall’s board of directors is meeting this week to make a final determination. The possibility of a virtual ceremony wasn’t seriously considered, per the report. Induction weekend had been slated to take place on July 24-26.
Earlier this year, the Baseball Writers Association of America voted to induct Derek Jeter and Larry Walker into the Hall of Fame, while the Modern Baseball Committee added eight-time All-Star catcher Ted Simmons and the late Marvin Miller to the class as well.
Last year’s induction ceremony drew an estimated 55,000 attendees to a city of just 1756 residents, and Nightengale notes that the enshrinement of Jeter and Walker led to some attendance projections that approached 100,000. An event of that size at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has led to government regulations on public gatherings has long seemed implausible. Beyond the sheer size of the crowd the event would draw, thousands of attendees would’ve been flying into New York City, the current U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus, under normal circumstances. And, as Nightengale observes, many attendees would be higher-risk due to their age, including a significant number of the game’s legends; there are 38 Hall of Famers who are 70 years of age or older — including 19 Hall of Famers who are at least 80.
Honestly for the best. Now the class can be bigger
Yes with next years guys that might get in,
The Veterans Committee needs to enshrine Bobby Grich.
Gil Hodges? Dale Murphy?
Agreed on Dale Murphy. Literally the best player in the NL for a 3 or 4 year period
The Cobra
Being the best for a such a short period is not a strong criteria to base candidacy if there’s not more to support consideration.
Agreed. In my opinion, Dale Murphy has been overlooked for too long. I personally think some of the inductees that have gotten in lately were not as solid as Murph. Dale Murphy was on some God-awful teams in his career and I think that hurts him now. Shame as he was a great guy.
Agreed close to 50 war lifetime great player.
True story: a few years ago I sent a meaningless email to a friend during the work day about the time Grich poured beer on Nixon’s head (it was in the local paper). That friend sent it to a friend who knew and sent it to Grich. In only an hour, what was an innocuous email ended up making its way to Grich and had his response in the email chain when it came back to me (he talked about what a great night that was.) This reinforced to me how connected to each other we all are and the power of electronic communication. It took only an hour round-trip.
Grich was awesome. One and done on the ballot. Sham.
Dewey, Dewey, Dewey.
Lou Whitaker.
They should abolish veterans committee. Just further waters down the level of players that get in. Should only be top 1 or 2% of players get in
It is in that range, with the Veterans Committee. Currently the total of Hall of Famers elected as players is about 1.5% of all major leaguers.
(15,213 total players, 235 HOFers elected as player)
I see no problem with the Veterans Committee, and it catches valuable overlooked players.
that’s good. a virtual one would be an insult to the guys getting in
Wow baseball putting revenue above the game of baseball what a shock!!!! Conflict of interest when one of the HOFers is getting a cut of this revenue
Huh?
late 20’s and on most are chitters!
Cheating had been a part of baseball, all sports, and life since the beginning.
they should really move the HOF induction to the all star break so the ceremony doesn’t have to share a spotlight with live games
Completely agree, and why this hasn’t been done makes zero sense to me. The All Star break should be a total celebration of the best of baseball.
While I think they should just eliminate the all star game entirely this is a good idea. There is nothing sports wise really going on that week
The Vinn diagram of people who attend the All-Star Game and people who attend the Induction overlaps quite a bit.
It will just be a bigger class, adding Curt Schilling.
Schilling won’t get in. They want to stick it to him cause of his comments and beliefs. He will eventually.
Which is total bs because it’s the hall of fame. Not hall of morality or hall of personal beliefs.
Voters need to get over it and do the right thing.
As much as I’ve come to despise the man I can’t make any sense of a Hall of Fame that has Mussina and not Schilling. Their career numbers are pretty close but Schilling’s postseason season numbers are superior and of non-active players Schilling is second all time in K/BB ratio (The guy ahead of him last pitched in 1884).
Yeah, I don’t like him either and I don’t care about what the political beliefs of anyone are the reason why he still isn’t in the Hall of Fame is ridiculous.
Yeah, if we’re going to deny HOF entrance based off of personality and politics then we’ll have to retroactively wipe out Ty Cobb and probably another 20% of the Hall’s entrants.
I’d take cone or schilling in a big game over mussina any day. And I like mussina okay. Come was wild and schilling is annoying. Mussina never had a bad quote. It’s unfortunate that people vote on feelings, but they are human.
Half the people that have been elected in the last 10 years should not be there. A wise man once told me pick 10 players you think or Hall of Famer’s and then pick the best two of those
I’m glad baseball minds are able to distinguish a player’s career achievements from personal beliefs. The HOF would be awfully small if it was based on your test of morality. You have at least one thing in common with Schilling’s personal beliefs—you love our first amendment rights!
He’s still at least two ballots away by the looks of it.
I suspect, in an off-year for newly eligible players, Schilling pulls it out next year.
What team should he represent? He played twice as many games with the Phillies as any other team, but won rings in Arizona and Boston.
I don’t think the Hall gives him a team cap. But if it does, he probably prefers Boston. The guy was so iconic in the playoffs. I cherish his time in AZ.
Could’ve left this comment anywhere – thanks to MLBTR for providing interesting content while we’re in baseball limbo. Some of us need baseball to survive – keep the chats.
Just do some virtual speeches.
Isn’t Hawk Harrelson part of the class of 2020 as well as the Ford Frick award winner?
Yes
Hawk Harrelson and other Ford Frick winners are not Hall of Famers. They get an award, but not a spot in the HOF.
Although many of them are far bigger contributors than owners who are already in. Example the impact Vin Scully made to the Dodgers is far larger than Walter O’Malley.
If Curt was to get in in 2021 and just for argument Roger and Barry did also(I’m torn i believe they were both HOF before one pitched and won c.y. at age 63 and other has a hat size of 13) i would have to say no…… but with Curt …..man would that make for some good copy!!!!
That was my first thought. Jeter, with Bonds, Clemens and Schilling
That would be nuts
So then the hof class for 2020 and 21 will all be inducted together. Who is eligible on the first ballot for 2021?
You’re on the internet. This info is easy to find.
I always tell people that. Look up yourself.
Thank you captian obvious. I Googled it. From 2021 to 2025 there’s at most 6 players that are first ballot HOFers..
2021
Torii Hinter(on the fence but has a solid chance)
’22
David Ortiz
A-Rod is on the ballot but he won’t get in. For the first 5 years of eligibility. At best the veterans commity (that goes for bonds, Clemens and possibly Sosa. Like Pete Rose, Barry Bonds should never get it. He tainted the game as bad as Jose Canseco .
’23
nobody
’24
Adrian Beltre
’25
Ichiro
CC Sabathia
Torii Hunter has zero chance of being elected by voters. Veterans Committee is his only bet.
Almost 2500 hit over 350HRs 1391 RBI 9x Gold Gold 5x All Star 2x silver slugger. That gets at least 30% on his first ballot.
80% of the players on the next 5 ballots won’t get a single vote. There’s no reason to put them on it.
The question with Ortiz was that he was on the list of players that tested positive for PEDs that was leaked in 2009 (test was in 2003). So if the stance is that anyone that ever used a PEDs can’t get into the Hall of Fame, how do you justify Ortiz’s situation? He did deny it but so have other players that are still held to the PED standard. That’ll be an interesting position to watch.
Ortiz gets at least 85% and that’s a low ball vote.
Piazza and Pudge were on that 2003 list. No Ortiz.
Ortiz isn’t eligible yet. 2021 is 5 years after he retired.
Hunter is not a HOF player.. Beltre ,I think eventually
Beltre 1st ballot for sure the dude was solid.
Torri Hunter no way. If Jim Edmonds couldn’t stay on the ballot after one year, Hunter definitely shouldn’t.
I think cc ichiro and beltre are you only three first rounders. I think Ortiz has to wait a year or two, because 1. The anonymous test he failed 2. DH still is considered less than a full player.
Hunteright get in eventually but he might be a final year guy or veterans committee. Arod probably can’t get in, until he does as an owner!!!
Theres a reason why schilling isnt in the h.o.f. and its not because he a Republican..its because he is not an all time great..
216-146 with a 3.46 era isnt exactly numbers that make you go wow, hes an all time great..just because he was way above average in the playoffs doesnt make you an instant h.o f.er..
Exactly
I didn’t know that they took political affiliation into Hall of Fame consideration
If the journalist’s don’t like your political views, or just didnt or don’t like you, you won’t get their vote.
Another delay for Marvin Miller
Sadly, it doesn’t matter.
Ted Simmons is long over due as well.
Lol who.
Lol really?
Ok. I know who he is but Any Baseball fan under the age of 50 doesnt. Yes he was a very good player but he was never even the best player on his team. It’s the Hall of Fame not the hall of very good players. The best we have heard it described as take 10 players you think are Hall of Famer’s and then take the best three of those
Top 10 non-ped catcher all-time.
Looking ahead for the next five years,,,…..I see only Ichiro & Ortiz on the first time listers getting voted in……….maybe guys like Schilling & McGriff odds improve.
I hope they put a serious time limit on acceptance speeches next year or the thing will run past midnight!
What’s a real shame about this announcement is that it’s effectively a death sentence for many of the small businesses in Cooperstown and the surrounding areas. Most of their revenues are tied to the influx of tourists, especially during the summer and the Hall of Fame weekend in particular. With the HOF itself closed and no induction ceremony, there won’t be any tourists… and it’s not like they can make up the revenue next year, as there’s only so many hotel rooms, seats at restaurants, etc. So a lot of the memorabilia shops and mom-and-pop outfits may not survive to next summer.
David Ortiz= HGH. David Ortiz should never get in the HOF.
He was never on hgu or linked to it. He’s a lock.
MLB announced it would begin testing for HGH within a week David Ortiz announced his retirement. Not a coincidence.
Hgh testing began in 2013 for mlb, papi announced his retirement in November of 15, meaning he played the next season…
Ortiz played 4 seasons after HGH testing was instituted. Jeter’s last good season coincided with the last season players could freely use HGH.
Ortiz lead al of MLB in 2016 with:
SLG. 620
OPS 1.021
At the age of 40
…4 seasons after HGH testing
Thanks to this article, my geographic sense of New York has improved! I didn’t think Cooperstown was anywhere near NYC.
Its a 4 hour ride doing 70 mph from queens ny..if you can ever get there , do it.you wont regret it..nothing at night to do there…. evety store on that avenue is a baseball store. Cpl of restaurants , pizzeria ,etc.. casino is hour away.. was there on my 50th birthday 4/28/18.. left on 4 29, it snowed
Would Bonds or Clemens accept enshrinement if it meant confessing to cheating, and a * next to their name?
That’s 3 months out. Seems a little soon to be cancelling it to me, but what do I know?
Not just Curt Schilling, but the media is keeping several players out because the media didn’t like them. For instance, I never liked Jeff Kent, and I know he wasn’t popular with media, but there is no universe where he isn’t one of the best offensive 2nd basemen. If most RBIs and Home Runs isn’t deserving, then this form of voting is an absolute joke.
Homerheins – agree – “this form of voting is an absolute joke”….it absolutely is when it takes all the way to Marino Rivera to get a unanimous selection.
Babe Ruth
Ted Williams
Jackie Robinson
Willie Mays
and many others should have been unanimously chosen
Players and coaches should vote not sports writers.